The Moustache Miler is an annual 5 km walk and run taking place in beautiful Stanley Park this Saturday, November 21. Now in its third year, it attracts hundreds of participants and moustaches of all shapes and sizes, raising money and awareness for men’s health programs around the world through the Movemeber Foundation.

The event has some star power in its corner, with former Vancouver Canuck Dave Babych acting as Grand Marshal, who’ll also be a judge at the Best Moustache competition that takes place after the run. Babych says the event is a natural fit for him, and a cause he is thrilled to support.

“I guess they noticed my moustache over the years, and thought I’d be a good candidate,” Babych told Vancity Buzz, laughing. “With all the men’s health issues that have been brought to the forefront in the last while this is a great movement to be involved with… I’m getting to that age where I know a lot of people who are going through some problems, whether it be mental or physical, and you’ve just got to stay on top of these things and bring more awareness to them.”

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The Moustache Miler this year coincides with the Movember MOVE campaign, which encourages men and woman to take part in 30 minutes of exercise every day in November. Babych says the Miler – and the Movember campaign in general – is a great way to get men talking about issues many have avoided in the past.

“Before, nobody really talked about any of these issues, whether it was prostate cancers, or testicular cancers, or even mental health issues – mental health especially, just because men are supposed to be tough and desensitized to all these things, which is just the most ridiculous thing,” says Babych. “Now with the notoriety brought to it, there’s just more awareness, and people are at least thinking if they do something about it or talk about it they’re the norm now, not just someone who is too sensitive or too soft or whatever you want to call it.”

Movember Moustache Miler

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DH Vancouver Staff

Daily Hive is the evolution of Vancity Buzz, established in Vancouver in 2008. In 2016, the publication rebranded and opened newsrooms in Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal. Send story tips to [email protected]